Blank feeder and ejector



Feb. 22, 1938. w. w. DAVIDSON 2,108,799

BLANK FEEDER AND' EJECTOR Filed Sept. 50, 1955 5. Sheets-Sheet 1 hwnfi? W? drdfiaw dim.

Feb. 22, 1938. w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK FEEDER .AND EJECTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet ww m @L 3% |I||||||| |||v|||||| l I nl IH J ILJW m Feb; 22, 1938. w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK FEEDER .AND EJECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Sept. 30, 1935 K mm 1938. w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK FEEDER .AND EJECTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jnmerzib? (1%[170/ Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED s A Es' PATENT orrlc 2,198,799 BLANK FEEDER AND EJECTOR William Ward Davidson, Evan ston, Ill. Application September 30, 1935,-Serial No. 42,876

14 Claims.

sion has been made thereon to remove the fed articles and arrange them in a stack.

The invention has" special reference to feedin devices of the character referred to particularly arranged and adapted for use in connection with automatic printing machines such as the Addressograph".

The Addressograph and similar machines are designed to print from successive plates carrying a series of addresses and to print or impress the addresses which are on the successive plates upon a similar series of envelopes, letter-heads, etc. At each operation of the press, one article is printed and the plate which carries the address is removed from printing position and the successive plate is moved into printing position.

My invention has to do with providing a feed-.

ing mechanism so related to the press that it will operate automatically in relation thereto to remove the printed article and feed another blank into printing position while the press is operating to remove the used plate and place the successive plate in printing'position.

The improved feeding mechanism derives its power from the printing press operating parts and the connection is arranged and adapted to' automatically operate the feeding mechanism in synchronism with the printing machine.

In carrying out my invention I arrange a movable member, which may be a tape or a slide, and- I move this member in one direction to feed the blank into printing position in proper timed relation, I then move it in the opposite direction to move the printed article out of printing posi-- disclosed arrangements, however, constituting merely illustrations of the various applications of the principleof the invention, which will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to said drawings, in which:-,-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention in a preferred form and shown in connection of some of the typical associated parts of an "Addressograph machine; 5

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 4" is 'a fragmentary, transverse, vertical section 'on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slight modification of the invention;

mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the tape driving mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged .fragmentary .elevational view of the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the view being similar to that shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section on the line 9-.9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is. a detail vertical section on the line Ill-l0 of Fi 5;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a secondmodification of the invention;

Fig. 12 isa fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section on the line |2-|2 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11, the plates being shown in section. 1 I will first describe the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In said figures 20 illustrates the frame of an Addressograph machine having a top plate 2|. Projecting up through a suitable opening in the top plate is a head 22 which is mounted on a horizontal shaft 23, arranged below the plate 2|.

The head is secured upon the shaft 23, which is mounted in suitablebearings indicated at 24 and is oscillated back and forth through suitable mechanism which connects a lower part of the 7 head with a sourceof power such as an electric 5 motor 25 mounted on the frame. of. the machine. The head 22 projects forward as shown in Fig. 1 and has a depending impression part 21 at its forward end which is arranged above an opening 28 in the top plate 2|. The printing machine is 5 provided with suitable mechanism operated in time with the up and downmovements of the. impression head 21 and adapted tomove a printing plate from a suitable stack, indicated at 29, arranged at the rear of the machine to a printing position below the opening 28 and after the impression has been made to remove the used plate and place a successive plate in printing position. An inked tape, not shown, is arranged to lie on top of the printing plate and beneath the head 21. I

The feeding mechanism is arranged to feed articles, such as envelopes, indicated at 23 where they are supported in a stack in a guide trough 30 to a position between the impression head 21 and the printing plate below-same and above the printing tape, and to remove the printed article from such position to a receptacle arranged below the holder 33 as indicated at 3!, in which $11118 printed articles are stored in .a stack as s own.

Power is supplied to operate the printing machine from any suitablesouree such as an electric motor 23 mounted on the frame of the machine and connected through suitable speed reducing mechanism indicated at 33 to a depending arm 34 rigid with the head 22. Power to operate the feeder is derived from the same source partly through the shaft 23 upon which the head 22 is mounted, and partly through the speed reducing means indicated at 33. The feeding mechanism for timing the movement of the articles,

into and out of printing position in synchronism" with the up and down movements of the head 22 derives its power through the shaft 23.

. At the foot or delivery end of the inclined guide 30 I arrange a separator roll 35 secured upon a horizontal shaft 36 carried at its ends in the free ends of arms 31 of bell-cranks 38 pivotally mounted on rigid side frame parts 38' at u. The shaft 38 is mounted to rotate in bearings carried by the bell-cranks 33 and as the bearings are rather widely separated I provide a support ll near the middieof the shaft 38 and adjacent to one end of the separator roll 33 and connecting the shaft 33 with a transverse rod 42;

start it initsmovementtoward its printing position, the clutch operates to rotate the shaft 33 and with it the separator roll 33, but when the pinion M is rotated in the opposite directionthe ratchem t clutch s: permits the mm a to stand at i The inclined trough 33 is carried on support bars 43 pivotally mounted at their lower forward ends on the framedparts" at 43. .The rear' ends of the support bars-l5 are supported by braces 41. The upper ends of the braces 41 are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the supports ll by a transversely extmding shaft 43 and their lower ends are adiustably. secured to the rear ends of side bars which extend rearwardly from the frame of the printing machine being-bolted upon the top plate 2| by screws II. The inclined trough 33 is carried by the shaft 4.3 on suitable blocks ll carried by the shaft and the lower ends of the braces 41 are slotted as shown at ll so that the feed trough can be ad- :Iusted as to inclination to suit the articles being fed a norm-eventin the envelope which is being separated from the stack by the separator roll 3| rl-asina forward the next envelope in succession, there is provided a stationary abutment in of the bell-cranks 38.

the form of a roller 52 below the separator roll 33 and spaced from the roller 35 .just suflicient to allow one envelopeat a time to pass. The

roller 52 is carried on a shaft 52' and is held As this separating mechanism per se, is not a part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to describe it more specifically except to say that the calipering means is pivotally mounted to swing up and down slightly and is counterbalanced by a weight 53 adiustably mounted on an arm 54 rigidly mounted on one The envelopes to be printed when placed in the inclined trough 30, slide down some towards the caliper rolls 35 and 52 and the lower end of the forward envelope contacts with the feed roll 33 and when the same is rotated to feed the time with the printing operations, a horizontally arranged toothed rack 54 is provided, arranged to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 44 and turn same back and forth. Due to the ratchet clutch 43 the roll is only rotated in the feeding direction. The rear end of the rack 54 is pivotally connected to the upper end of an arm 53 of a bell-crank 56 which is" pivotally mounted at its elbow on the frame at 51. The free end of the other arm 58 of the bell-crank is pivotally connected at 59 to the upper end of a depending link 80. The lower end of the link 80 is pivotally connected to the outer end of. a rigid projection 3| extending; out from a crank arm 62. The crank arm 82 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 23 upon which the impression head 22 is also rigidly mounted and asit projects in the opposite direction to the head 22 from the shaft 23, its free end'rises as the head 21 descends and viceversa.

As the head 21 is'moved down toward printing position, the projection 6| on the crank arm swings'up as indicated by the arrow 63 on Fig. 4 and the rack is moved to the left as shown on Fig. 3, through the link 30 and bell-crank 56 and causes an envelope .to be separated from the stack "and advanced.

Thebottom guides 65 of the holder 30 are slightly curved up at their lower ends Just be- Yond the separator roll-33 to direct the forward edges of the envelopes upon the upper side of a conveyor or pull-out roll 86. The conveyor roll 33 is rigidly mounted on a transverse shaft 61 which is rotat'ably mounted in bearings carried by-the frame parts 33.

Above the shaft 81 is a second transverse shaft 33 which carries idle rollers 69 adapted to be Pressed toward the conveyor roll 88 to cause same to feed the envelopes forward. The shaft 88 is carried at its ends in the free ends of arms' Illwhich are mounted at their opposite ends one a transverse shaft llso that they can swing up and down and they are yieldingly held down totermittently by-the separator roll 35.

This continuous rotation of the conveyor roll 65 is accomplished as shown in the drawings, by around belt or drive I3 which is trained around a grooved belt pulley I4 rigidly mounted on the conveyor roll shaft 61 and also around a grooved belt pulley I5 rigidly mounted on an intermediate shaft I6 arranged below the machine top 2I and connected by a driving belt I6 and shaft 'II with the belt 33 (see Fig. 1).

Suitable guide pulleys 18 and I9 are provided for guiding the belt I3 from the pulley I I to the pulley I5.

In'order to complete the feeding of the envelope after it leaves the conveyor roll 66, I provide, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, a tape or flat belt 80 which is arranged immediately above the top plate 2I and in substantial contact therewith and extends across the opening 28 in the top plate 2| and as close to the head 21 as is practicable. This feed tape has an intermittent motion to the right (Fig. 2), to feedthe envelope into printing position and toward the left to discharge it after it has been printed.

This feed tape or belt, as shown, is a continuous belt and the two stretches BI and 82 lie one on top of the other on the top of the top plate M as best shown in Fig. 3. The belt passes around a belt guide 83 at the right hand end of the printingmachine (see Fig. 1) and both stretches are guided downwardly at the opposite end of the machine around idle guide pulleys 8d and 05, mounted on supports projecting from the top plate 2 I, and is trained around a relatively large belt pulley 86 mounted on a shaft Iii which in turn is mounted in bearings on the free ends of arms 88 rigid with the machine frame.

The belt guide 83 has two small guide rollers 89 and 90 close to the top 2i and a third larger guide pulley 9| above the other two and is adaptedto guide the two stretches of the tape close down to the top 2|, (see Fig. 1).

The tape 80 is moved intermittently'back'and forth and for this purpose it is secured at one point to the periphery of the large pulley 86 by a screw 92 (see Fig. 3) The pulley is oscillated through approximately one-half of a revolution to move the tape 80 back and forth, and in time 'with the feeding of the envelopes by the separator roller 35, by means of a segmental gear 93 mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal. shaft 94 carried in brackets 95 projectingrigidly from the frame of the machine. The gear has a rigid arm 96 projecting in the opposite direction is fed by the separator roll 35 as has been .de-

scribed as the head 22 moves down towards the printing position, that is as the projection GI is swung up, the segmental gear 93 is swung from the fed envelope, as it is delivered from the conv'eyor rolls 66 and 69, into the printing position.

In order that the envelope as it is carried. intoprinting position will not be lifted above its true level, an idle guide roll 99 is rotatably mounted above the tape on a vertically swinging support I00 pivotally mounted at'its opposite end in a block IOI adjustably mounted on a stop rod I02. The roll is arranged about the middle of the length of the head 21 and the stop rod extends toward the right hand end of the machine where it is adjustably secured to a support rod I03. The support I00 is pivotally mounted in the block IOI and is free to swing up and down'and is pressed against the tape 00 or the envelope which may be in printing position by a spring I90.

At its free end the stop rod carries a vertical stop plate I04 against which the forward end of the envelope contacts to properly register with the printing plate. As the'rod I02 is longitudi-- nally adjustable the stop I04 can be adjusted to properly register the articles being printed.

The support I03 is rigidly mounted on the top plate of the machine by means of rigid brackets I05. Side guides I06 and I0! for the article being fed, are provided. These guides each have a flat bottom flange I08 and a vertically disposed flange I09 at its outer edge. 1 The side guide I06 which is at the front of the machine is rigidly carried by one end of support rod IIIB which is adjust- I06 and MW are slightly flared as shown at I I2, so as to avoid any engagement with the advancing end of the article being fed in. In order to time the placement of the article to be printed accurately with the operation of the impression mechanism of the printing machine, the pressure roll 69 is lifted free of the conveyor roll 66 to permit the forward end of the envelope to freely project over same and at just the right instant the pressure roll 69 is brought down upon tne envelope causing it to be projected for.- ward upon the conveyor tape 80. I To accomplish the described action of the pressure roll 69 a vertically arranged, pivotally mounted cam plate I I3 is provided which is pivoted 'at its lower end at M4 to the adjacent frame part 39 and its upper end I I5 is connected dill by a rod II6 to a projection I I! on the upper end of the arm of the bell-crank 56.. The rear or free end vII8 of the connecting rod H6 'is.

threaded and I provide two adjustable stops II9 apart to provide some. lost motion between theprojection III and the stops, to properly time the operation of the pressure roll 69 to let the forward edge of the fed article enterfreely between the feed roll and the pressure roll and then be engaged ward. I

The cam plate II3 has a rounded cam projection I2I arranged to be swung beneath a roller I22 on the conveyor roll shaft 68 and lift same against the force of the hold-down springs I2. Adjacent to the cam projectiorii'IfZI the cam .plate II 3 is provided with a depression I23 into which the roller I22 is forced by the pull of the spring "I2 and the pressure roll 59 is thus free '65 by the rolls to convey it for-,

The operation of the mechanism described is as follows:

As the impression head begins to descend to make an impression, the separator roll 35 is rotated counter-clockwise to separate an envelope from the stack 26, the pressure roll 69 is first lifted to let the forward end of the envelope enter between the two rolls 66 and 69 and then the roll 69 is pressed down to press the envelope against the conveyor roll 66 which is always rotating. At the same time the top stretch 8I of the feed tape is moving to the right and asit receives the envelope from the rolls 66 and 69 it 'carries it forward in between the guides I06 and I01 and against the stop I04 into printing position.

After the envelope has been printed, the head 22 begins to rise and the top stretch 8| of the tape 80 is drawn to the left and carries the printed envelope to the left from the printing position and beneath the roll 66 to be discharged. A second pressure roll I25 is arranged below the pressure roll 66 and the tape passes through between these rolls carrying the printed envelope with it.

At the top of the receptacle 3| a deflector plate I26 is arranged to guide the envelope, being discharged, as shown at I21, down into thereceptacle 3i.

Carried on the head 21 are impression rolls I28 and I29 which are arranged to be passed back and forth, beneath the head 21 when it is depressed into printing position and thus cause the printing tape, not shown, to make the impression on the envelope in the usual manner from the printing plate not shown, but positioned in printing positionbelow the opening 28 in the top plate 2|.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, is similar to the form already described except that instead of the continuous feed,

tape 80 I provide a feed tape I30 which is attached at one. end to the periphery of a large belt pull y I3I similar to'the belt pulley 36 al-- ready d cribed, and at its opposite, end the tape I30 is mounted on a take-up device I32, located at the right hand end of the machine top 2I. The take-up device is similar to a spring action shade roller and properly tensions the tape at all times.

The single tape I30 requires a different means of controlling the pulley I3I than already derotation on the shaft I33. But instead of the,

pinion being connected directly to the pulley I3I to rotate same, it is connected to the pulley through .a latching means which permits the pulleyto be freed at times-from the pinion.

This latching means consists of a radial arm I31 rigid with the pinion and carrying at its outer end a latch member I38 pivotally mounted thereon to swing out and in and yieldingly held inwardly by a tension spring I39 connected between the arm I31 and the latch I38.

' pulley again engages with the latch I35.

quickly enough.

A pin I44 projects out from one side of the.

pulley I3I and is adapted to be engaged by the latch in which is provided'with a shoulder In for engaging the pin I40 and rotating the pulley counter-clockwise (see Fig. 8). of the latch I30 is beveled or inclined on its inner side so that it can readily pass over and engage the pin I40. To free the latch from the pin I40 at the opposite end of its movement, a rigid stop pin I43 is provided, mounted on the adjacent bracket arm. I34 and over which the free end of the latch passes and by which it is lifted. As soon as the latch is lifted free of the pin I40, the tension device I32 to which the other end of the tape I30 is secured, pulls the tape back and rotates the pulley I3I in the opposite direction.

The latch is disengaged by the pin I43 just as the segmental gear I begins its return movement and the 'tension device I32 rotates the pulley backwards until the pin I in the A suitable stop pin I44 is arranged to limit the in ward movement of the latch I4I when it is free .of the pin I40.

The spring casing is mounted for rotation on I the sleeve I46, and is held against rotation by projections I52 on the outer periphery of the casing and which projections are adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed latch I53 pivotally mounted on a fixed bracket I54. Thecasing I50 is adapted to be rotated by hand to wind up the spring I50 to put a tension on the tape I30 and The point 2' is provided with rigid projections I55 for'this purpose. The rotatable parts are held in place longitudinally on the sleeve I between a fixed collar I at one end and a removable collar I51 atthe other end secured in place by a set screw.

It sometimes occurs upon the envelope ejecting movement of the tape I30, that it starts into motion so suddenly that it slips beneath the en- I velope and does not start the ejection of same To avoid this possibility I arrange a non-skid abutment I58 adjustably mounted on one edge of the tape I30 and adapt ed to engage the envelope and cause it to move with the tape to be ejected.

This abutment I50, as best shown in Fig. 10,

consists in a metal block I59 provided with a longitudinal slot I60 near its bottom to receive an edge of the tape. In the slot in and above the tape-there is a pressure plate I6I which is held in place by vertical guide pins I62, projecting up through holes provided in the block I59. The pressure plate is clamped down upon the tape by a-screw I63 mountedin the block I59.

The forward end of the block is provided with an upwardly inclined projection or tongue I64 adapted to'project above the adjacent end of an envelope to be 'discharged and not let the ening of the article to be printed, in printing position, against the regular registering stop I04,

- to the roll 99 already described for holding the envelope down in printing position but in this instance instead of being located centrally over the tape I30, it is oft-set side-wise to allow theabutment I58 to pass freely past same.

A third form of the invention is shown in Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive. In this form, insteadbf the feed tape as already described, thereis provided a sliding metallic carrier which is moved back and forth somewhat similar to the described movements of the tapes.

In this form of the invention instead of deriving motion for'the feeder through the shaft upon which the head 22 is mounted, motion is derived directly from the head, and the mechanism which takes the place of the feed tapes etc., herein before described, is as follows:

An envelope carrying slide device is provided which consists of two flat strap-like bars I66 which are arranged longitudinally of the machine top in position to receive the side edge portions of the envelopes to be printed. These bars I66 are parallel with each other and are secured at their inner ends to a cross bar I61. They are secured to the under sides of blocks I60 which are adjustably mounted on the cross bar I61 to be adjusted from and toward each other to accommodate envelopes of different widths. The cross bar I61 is secured to the inner end of a fiat slide member I69 ,which is mounted to slide longitudinally of the machine in a fixed slide guide I10 secured upon the top M of the machine. Above the front slide bar I66 there is a second bar I1I adapted when the envelope is in printing position to lie down on the envelope and hold it fiat down in place. This bar "I is pivoted at its inner end to the adjacent block I68 to swing up and down and its free end I12 is bent or formed pwardly to engage and ride over the shaft "31f the feeding mechanism and be lifted free ment.

The slide guide I10 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening I13 on its under side'and through. which a post I14, rigid with the slide member I69, projects downwardly.

This post' is connected by "a horizontal link I15 with a long arm I16 of a bell-crank I11, which has a short arm I18 by which the bellcrank is adapted to be swung on its pivot I19. The pivot I19 is mounted in the free end of a fiat projection I80 extending out from the side tion which moves the printing head up and down and this forward and back rocking "motion is utilized to move the feed slide mechanism to carry the envelope into printing position and to this form of mechaf the envelope on the ejecting move-' eject it from printing position. As the free end of the bellcrank arm I18 swings in'a horizontal plane and the opposite end of the connecting rod I8I swings in a vertical plane, suitable universal joints I83 and I84 are used in connecting the rod I8I at its ends to the member 22, andto the bell-'- crank I 11.

The full line position of the parts in Fig. 11 shows the limiting position on its ejection movement, and the dotted line position shows the extreme position of the feeding movement. As in the other forms, an adjustable stop I is provided for limiting the inward movement of the envelope to cause it to properly register with the printing mechanism. This stop is fixed on one end of a rod I86 which is adjustably mounted in a fixed bracket I81 secured to the rear end of the slide guide I10.

Otherwise than as described the feed mechanism including the feed rollers etc., are the same 'in this form of the invention as in those already described.

As many other modifications of the invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I'do not limit or confine the invention to the specific details of construction of the forms describedyexcept within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a feed mechanism of the kinddescribed for co-operation with a printing machine, a tape for moving'the articles to be printed, into and out of printing position, a pulley to which one end of the tape is secured for moving the tape in one direction, a segmental gear and a co-operating' pinion for intermittently rotating said pulley, and latch means for connecting the pinion to the pulley for rotating same.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, and means for unlatching the pinion from the pulley at one end of its movement, and means for automatically closing the latch at the opposite end of the movement.

3. In a mechanism of the kind described, a reciprocating tape for conveying articles to be printed to printing position, and an abutment I on the tape arranged and adapted to engage the articles as the tape is operated to remove them from printing position.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, the abut- .ment being adjustably mounted on the tape and arranged to be free of the article when same is in printing position. I

5. The invention: as defined in claim 3, stop means for accurately positioning the article in printing position, the abutment on the tape arrang'edto be positioned beyond the said stop means when the article is in printingposition.

6. a blank feeding mechanism of the kind described-for co-operation with -a printing ma-' chine, a reciprocating tape arranged and adapted to carry an articlefsuch as an envelope into a position to be printed, and afterit has been printed to withdraw it from the printing position, the envelope remaining in substantially, relatively fixed contact with the tape during this operation, a power operated, member to which one end of the tape is secured for moving the tape in one direction, and a yielding tension device to which such as an envelope, into a position to be printed, and after it is printed to withdraw it from printing position, the arrangement being such that the article is in substantially relatively fixed contact with the flat slide member during this operation, means connecting the slide member with the printing machine for movement thereby, and an elongatedmember pivotally mounted on the slide member adaptedto rest upon the upper surface of the article being printed and hold it in contact with the flat slide member.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, and means for automatically lifting the elongated member as the slide member is moved to dis charge the article.

9. In a blank' feeding mechanism of the kind described for co-operation with a printing machine having a printing position a flat reciprocating member operatively connected to the printing machine for movement thereby and arranged to carry a blank such as an envelope, into said printing position to-be printed, and

after it is printed to carry it away from the printing position, the article being in substantially'relatively fixed contact with the fiat reciprocating member throughout this operation, and a pressure member arranged adjacent to said printingposition above said reciprocating member arranged and adapted to press the article against the said reciprocating member as and for the purpose specified;

being such that the article lies in substantially relatively fixed contact with said flat reciprocating member during this operation, means cooperating with the reciprocating'member arranged and adapted to hold the blank down upon the reciprocating member during the blank advancing and blank ejecting movements thereof.

11; The invention as defined in claim 9, the flat, reciprocating member comprising a flat metallic member.

12. The invention as defined in claim 9, the flat reciprocating member comprising a pair of parallel flat metallic strips.

13. The invention as defined in claim 10, the flat reciprocating member comprising a flat metallic member.

'14. The invention as defined in claim 10, the

flat reciprocating member comprising a pair of parallel flat metallic strips.

WM. WARD DAVIDSON. 

